A NEW community workspace is about to open at Otley Courthouse.

The arts and resource centre is transforming the block of its building that was formerly used by Citizens Advice into a ‘Maker Space’.

The new facility will offer rooms and a whole range of equipment - including woodworking benches, a 3D printer, sewing machines, plus electronics and soldering tools - designed to help users get creative.

The scheme has been spearheaded by Dr Marty Jopson (the BBC’s The One Show’s scientist, who also helped start Otley Science Festival) and will operate on a monthly membership basis while also staging certain sessions that are open to the public.

Courthouse Chair David Robson said: “The idea is to have as many tools as possible to help people make things.

“There are about 100 ‘maker spaces’ in the country which are all slightly different but based on a similar model.

“For us this offers something on the more technical, craft side of things which is a really good match with what the Courthouse already offers.

“For a town like Otley we’re hoping it will have quite a big impact and the aim is to probably launch it in November during this year’s Science Festival.*”

The Courthouse received a boost while refurbishing the rooms for the Maker Space thanks to Otley gym Club Energy, which donated flooring material.

Mr Robson added: “That was really good of Club Energy, a big thank you to them.”

*The 2018 Otley Science Festival, featuring a variety of presentations, talks and a Science Fair, runs from Monday, November 5 to Saturday, November 10.